Influential factors on endocrine changes and hormone replacement therapy during pri-operation period in patients with craniopharyngiomas

Objective To study the influential factors on endocrine changes and hormone replacement therapy during pri -operation period in patients with craniopharyngiomas. Methods 47 patients with craniopharyngiomas admissioned from January 2002 to August 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent microneurosurgical operations. The vein blood samples were taken before operation and one week after craniopharyngioma operation respectively. TSH, T3, T4, PRL, FSH, LH, E2, T were assayed, and plasma cortisol was tested at 8 am and 4 pm respectively. Moreover the results should be double checked at 1 week after operation. We also monitored urine volume, gravity. All the data were analyzed by statistics software SPSS 13.0. Results After surgery the incidence of hypogonadism and diebets insipidus was significantly higher than before surgery. The number of low TSH cases also increased significantly after operation. There was significantly lower incidence of hyperprolactinemia after surgery. The hypothyroidism incidence has no obvious changes peri-operation period. Conclusions The endocrine abnormalities after surgery appear to aggravate. Surgical approach and resection degree can influent endocrine changes after surgery directly. Hormone replacement therapy should be choosed rutinely after craniopharyngioma surgery. Key words: Craniopharyngioma;  Neurosurgical procedures;  Endocrinology;  Hormon replacement therapy